Montana Legislature hearing wide variety of bills on housing affordability

HELENA — The supply of inexpensive housing is likely one of the main points individuals in Montana have been speaking about. Now, the Montana Legislature is beginning to take into account a collection of proposals for tackling the difficulty.

“We’ve heard individuals loud and clear, that housing affordability out there’s loopy – it’s insane,” mentioned Senate President Sen. Jason Ellsworth, R-Hamilton.

Ellsworth mentioned lawmakers have been trying on the difficulty from many alternative angles. He highlighted a wide range of proposals, from Republicans’ invoice to supply tax rebates to property house owners to a invoice revising legal guidelines on transferring property inside a household.

The Legislature can be listening to a collection of payments aimed toward rushing up subdivision opinions:

• Home Invoice 211, sponsored by Rep. Larry Brewster, R-Billings, would change the foundations on when authorities should maintain a number of hearings on a deliberate subdivision.
• Senate Invoice 130, sponsored by Sen. Forrest Mandeville, R-Columbus, would permit cities to consolidate planning boards, zoning commissions and boards of adjustment right into a land-use board.
• Senate Invoice 226, sponsored by Mandeville, would permit the Montana Division of Environmental High quality to certify impartial entities to evaluation subdivision purposes.
• Senate Invoice 227, sponsored by Mandeville, would permit DEQ to authorize some skilled candidates to evaluation subdivision purposes.

“The query is what can we do on the availability aspect – as a result of the demand is certainly there,” Ellsworth mentioned. “I believe the one factor we will do – as a result of we will’t effectuate the costs of lumber, you may’t effectuate the costs of labor – however definitely land and the chance for land to be open for growth.”

One invoice that acquired a listening to Tuesday is Home Invoice 337, sponsored by Rep. Katie Zolnikov, R-Billings. It might prohibit cities and cities from requiring a minimal lot dimension of greater than 2,500 sq. toes, if so much has each municipal water and sewer service. It might additionally restrict municipalities’ authority to require constructing setbacks and open area.

Zolnikov mentioned throughout the listening to that the invoice would offer extra flexibility and argued it could solely result in considerably extra growth within the areas the place there’s essentially the most demand for housing.

“The great thing about this invoice is it places issues like growth into the free market,” she mentioned.

HB 337 drew opposition from native authorities representatives, together with the Montana League of Cities and Cities. Kelly Lynch, the League’s govt director, mentioned municipalities are prepared to be a part of the dialogue on how land-use modifications can enhance housing availability, however they don’t desire a top-down mandate from the state.

“There is not any flexibility in any respect – it simply says you shall do that,” she mentioned. “Lot sizes would be the dimension and setbacks would be the dimension. Regardless of the place you might be, it doesn’t matter what the problems are in your neighborhood.”

Lynch mentioned a variety of cities have acknowledged the seriousness of the housing difficulty and began making their very own zoning modifications. She mentioned lowering minimal lot sizes might be a part of the answer, however they’re not proper for each neighborhood.

Lynch mentioned the League is working with lawmakers on an alternate proposal. The invoice textual content is just not but obtainable, however she mentioned it could probably require cities and cities to undertake a number of insurance policies to help housing availability, out of an inventory of about 20 choices.

“We’ve taken the place that we’d slightly have a menu of choices after which have the communities choose from that checklist these reforms that work greatest for his or her communities,” mentioned Lynch.

Additionally up for a listening to Tuesday was Senate Invoice 194, sponsored by Sen. Mary Ann Dunwell, D-Helena. It might supply landlords a tax credit score in the event that they lease a house to a long-term tenant at decrease than market charge.

Dunwell mentioned the proposal can be only one device to handle the housing difficulty, however doubtlessly one that might make an enormous distinction.

“It’s a win-win for everybody: It is win-win for renters to have the ability to keep of their leases and afford their rents, and it is win-win for landlords to allow them to keep in enterprise,” she mentioned.

SB 194 would set the credit score at $200 for each $100 they set lease under 110% of the federal authorities’s “truthful market lease” for the county. Within the preliminary fiscal breakdown of the invoice, finances analysts assumed that credit score can be for the complete 12 months, however Dunwell mentioned her intention was for the quantity to be month-to-month – so no less than $2,400 per 12 months.

Additionally on Tuesday, Democratic leaders within the Legislature launched particulars on their proposal to place $1.5 billion of the state’s finances surplus towards funding in a number of key priorities, together with workforce housing.